GeorgiaCollege StateUniversity Workplace Proceduresfor Accommodating
Religious Observances
I.Purpose
Georgia CollegeState University (GCSU) is committed to the fundamental principles of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every prospective and current employee and strives to create a campus environment which understands, fosters, and embraces the value of diversity. No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability or veteran status be excluded from employment or participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination, under any program or activity conducted by GCSU.
- What is a “Reasonable Accommodation”?
In a university setting, the term “reasonable accommodation” can apply to both the academic and work environments. Reasonable religious accommodations are any adjustments to the work and/or academic environment that will allow the individual to practice his/her religion. "Undue hardship" is a practice, procedure, or financial cost, which unreasonably interferes with business operations at the university.
In accordance with the University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ policies and procedures, the University’s non-discrimination policy and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, GCSU prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion and provides reasonable accommodations for a practitioner's sincerely held religious beliefs or practices unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the University.
- In terms of the work environment, religious accommodations could involve adjusting the employee’s schedule, modifying their working environment, or modifying their job duties.
It is the responsibility of the employee to request an accommodation for his or her sincerely held religious belief.
The rights of other employees may not be infringed upon in order to accommodate the religious needs of an employee.
III.Processes for Requesting Workplace Accommodations
The University will consider religious accommodation requests by granting reasonable accommodations to employees, provided operational problems or hardships within the affected department are not created.
If you are seeking a workplace accommodation based on religion, fill out the form below, at and make the request to your supervisor or department head. For additional information or assistance, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (478) 445-5596 or the Office of Institutional Equity at (478) 445-1382.
IV.Additional Accommodations
For requests by the public for reasonable access to University facilities and programs, please contact the program sponsor or ExtendedUniversity, (478)445-573, who will help to initiate the interactive process.
V. How are Accommodations Made?
Accommodations are provided through an interactive process between the requester and GCSU representatives. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Interactive Process is "an informal, interactive process . . . [to] identify the precise limitations …and potential reasonable accommodations that could overcome those limitations."
The party requesting the accommodation may be asked to obtain specific supporting documentation to be forwarded to the University Human Resources Office.
VI. Responsibility for Implementation
The immediate supervisor is responsible for reviewing the request and assessingwhether the accommodation will cause undue operational problems or hardship.
For example, time off to observe a religious holiday must be requested and approved in advance by the supervisor consistent with departmental guidelines. At the supervisor’s discretion, time off for religious accommodation shall be charged to the employee’s accrued time or annual leave, or, made up during the same workweek.
The Office of Human Resources (478) 445-5596) is available to answer questions or provide additional information regarding this policy.
VII. Filing a Grievance
Complaints of failure to provide reasonable accommodation of a sincerely held religious belief or allegations of discrimination based on religions can be filed with the Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity within ninety (90) days of the last incident.
Yves-Rose SaintDic
Director of Institutional Equity & Diversity
142 Maxwell Student Union
(478) 445-1382
* Please note that GCSU processes all discrimination and harassment complaints, including harassment based on religion, in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Sexual Harassment Policy.
VIII.Central Reporting and Coordination Requirement
When a workplace reasonable accommodation for a religious observance has been processed, a copy of the Reasonable Religious Accommodation Request Form, be completed and delivered by a university representative to the Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity.